成唯識論了義燈 5.68

5.68

There are nine classes of conceit. The Commentary explains: "Excessive conceit (atimāna), conceit (māna), and inferior conceit (ūnamāna) give rise respectively to the first three." This means that regarding an equal, thinking oneself superior gives rise to the class of conceit that "I am superior." Regarding a superior, thinking oneself equal is also excessive conceit; however, since [the text] now says "I am superior," that is excluded. Regarding an equal, thinking [oneself] equal gives rise to the class that "I am equal"; it does not refer to regarding an inferior, because regarding an inferior, to say one is equal is conceiving oneself as superior. Based on inferior conceit, one gives rise to the class of conceit that "I am inferior." / "Inferior conceit, conceit, and excessive conceit give rise respectively to the middle three": based on inferior conceit, one gives rise to the class of conceit that "there is someone superior to me"; regarding an equal, thinking [oneself] equal, one gives rise to the class that "there is someone equal to me"; regarding an equal, thinking [oneself] superior, one gives rise to the class that "there is someone inferior to me." / "Conceit, excessive conceit, and inferior conceit give rise respectively to the last three": regarding an equal, thinking [oneself] equal, one gives rise to the class that "there is none superior [to me]"; regarding an equal, thinking [oneself] superior, one gives rise to the class that "there is none equal [to me]"; based on inferior conceit, one gives rise to the class of conceit that "there is none inferior [to me]," as stated in fascicle 19 of the Kośa and fascicle 199 of the Vibhāṣā. / Question: Why is the class of conceit that "I am superior" based only on thinking oneself superior regarding an equal, and does not mention thinking oneself equal regarding a superior? / Answer: Since it now says "I am superior," it is clear that this does not refer to thinking oneself equal regarding a superior. The others are to be understood accordingly. / Question: Why does it not arise based on conceit of excessive conceit (mānātimāna)? / Answer: This is stated according to the predominant cases; one does not predominantly consider oneself superior regarding a superior. This is stated according to the Jñānaprasthāna. According to the Prakaraṇapāda, it also arises regarding that, as stated in fascicle 199 of the Vibhāṣā. This is the explanation according to the root treatise. Thus, according to the Prakaraṇapāda-śāstra, three types are subsumed under the class of conceit that "I am superior": if, regarding an inferior, one considers oneself superior, that is conceit (māna); regarding an equal, considering oneself superior is excessive conceit (atimāna); regarding a superior, considering oneself superior is conceit of excessive conceit (mānātimāna). The remaining eight classes of conceit should be explained in the same logical manner. From this it follows that the Jñānaprasthāna speaks according to the predominant cases, while the Prakaraṇapāda-śāstra speaks according to exhaustive principle. / However, among these nine classes, three arise from excessive conceit: namely, "I am superior," "there is someone inferior [to me]," and "there is none equal [to me]." Three arise from conceit: namely, "I am equal," "there is someone equal [to me]," and "there is none superior [to me]"; both arise regarding intermediate situations. The remaining three arise based on inferior situations, because regarding someone superior, one considers oneself inferior. / Question: What is the difference between the classes of conceit (māna-vidha) and the [root] conceits (māna)? / Answer: There are two meanings. First, they must arise following the view of self (satkāyadṛṣṭi) or concomitantly with it; second, they are mostly partial [applications of the root conceits], and according to the Prakaraṇapāda, there is also an excess. For example, excessive conceit is, regarding a superior, considering oneself equal, and regarding an equal, considering oneself superior; "I am superior," however, is only considering oneself superior regarding an equal, and is therefore not the full scope. According to the Prakaraṇapāda, "I am superior" arises based on three—namely, regarding an inferior, an equal, and a superior, one considers oneself superior—and is therefore an excess. / Question: The three classes—"I am inferior," ["there is someone superior," and "there is none inferior"]—arise based on inferior conceit; since they are entirely the same, not merely partial, how do they differ from the seven [types of conceit]? / Answer: They possess the first meaning. / Question: Why are those that arise following or concomitant with the view of self called "classes of conceit"? Do we not accept that the seven conceits also arise following or concomitant with the view of self? / Answer: We do not deny that the seven conceits arise following or concomitant with the view of self. But their mental aspects differ: that which arises directly after conceiving a self is conceit; that which arises as conceit after conceiving that "I am superior," etc., is a class of conceit. Alternatively, [conceit] may also arise without depending on "I-conceit" (asmimāna), whereas the classes necessarily depend on the "I". Furthermore, because of being partial or excessive, they are classes of those seven. One should also explain it thus: arising after the view of self is conceit; arising after [the view of] what belongs to a self is a class of conceit. Conceiving that "I have inferiority or superiority," inferiority and superiority pertain to the self; though this is not strictly what belongs to a self, its mental aspect resembles it. / Ximing says: "The nine classes [are classified as follows]: three arise based on three grades; three arise based on the superior grade; three arise based on the intermediate and superior grades. Within the class of conceit 'I am superior,' three kinds of conceit are subsumed: namely, regarding an inferior, conceiving oneself superior; regarding an equal, conceiving oneself superior; regarding a superior, conceiving oneself superior; which are, respectively, conceit, excessive conceit, and conceit of excessive conceit. The remaining eight classes of conceit should be considered in the same logical manner. The class of conceit 'I am equal' arises based on the intermediate and superior grades and subsumes two conceits. 'I am inferior' arises based only on the superior grade and subsumes one conceit. The class of conceit 'there is someone superior [to me]' is identical to 'I am inferior'; 'there is none inferior [to me]' is also the same. The class 'there is someone equal [to me]' is identical to 'I am equal.' The classes 'there is someone inferior [to me],' 'there is none superior [to me],' and 'there is none equal [to me]'—these three are also identical to 'I am superior.'" / Now I say this seems to be an error. He asserts: "Three arise based on three grades." Then he states: "'There is someone inferior,' 'there is none superior,' and 'there is none equal' are also identical to 'I am superior'"—that would make four arising based on three grades; how could he say three? By deduction, "there is none superior" must be identical to "I am equal," arising based on intermediate and superior grades. Furthermore, the three classes of conceit, such as "I am inferior," arise based on inferior situations; how could they arise based on the superior? Because one considers oneself inferior. Thus fascicle 19 of the Kośa says: "Regarding one who is largely superior, one considers oneself slightly inferior. Inferior conceit can be established because there is an elevated aspect. In the conceit 'there is none inferior to me,' what is the elevated aspect?" (This is the question.) "It means that regarding such an assemblage of superior sentient beings whom one loves, and regarding one's own body, though one knows it to be extremely inferior, one still respects oneself." (This is the answer.) Since it says, "though one knows it to be extremely inferior, one still respects oneself," it is clear that this is not the superior grade.